Arsenal are edging closer to completing their next piece of summer business after Emile Smith Rowe’s £34million move to Fulham was confirmed on Friday. The 24-year-old has joined the Cottagers on a five-year contract with a club option of a further 12 months after 14 years in north London.
After that move was rubber stamped, the Gunners are now focused on getting someone through the door. And that is expected to be Spain international Mikel Merino, who is set to make the switch to the Emirates in a £25m transfer from Real Sociedad after impressing at Euro 2024.
It has been reported that Arsenal are wanting to press on with their bid to sign Merino in time for him returning to pre-season on Monday. The 28-year-old is among a group of players who have had an extended break after Spain won the tournament last month. Despite that, the Gunners are keen to get a deal over the line with just two weeks to go until their Premier League curtain-raiser against Wolves.
Merino is set to bring experience and quality to the Arsenal midfield, having made 242 appearances for Sociedad over the past six years. Standing at 6ft 2″, Merino is tall, strong and powerful in the air. Also left-footed, Merino provides balance in midfield that the Gunners do not have right now.
It’s another clever addition to the Gunners squad after David Raya made his loan move permanent last month and Riccardo Calafiori joined the club for £42m from Bologna. Calafiori has signed a long-term contract at the Emirates and bolsters their defensive options going into the 2024/25 season.
